Gordon Brown hits out at MoD chiefs after it emerged they knew about radiation in Dalgety Bay 30 years ago
THE former Prime Minister insists the MoD should accept responsibility for cleaning up the beach after a report revealed they were to blame for the radioactive particles.
Gordon Brown (Image: Danny Lawson/PA)
FORMER Prime Minister Gordon Brown has hit out at defence chiefs after it emerged they knew more than 30 years ago that a beach was polluted by radiation.
He slammed the MoD's failure to act after a report showed officials were aware there was a problem at Dalgety Bay in Fife as far back as 1980.
The report – which shows that as many as 800 contaminated aircraft were dumped there – said the MoD was to blame for radioactive particles washing ashore.
But defence bosses hit back and said they had concerns over the "adequacy and validity" of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) report.
Brown said: "It is a scandal if the MoD refuse to accept responsibility for cleaning up Dalgety Bay once and for all.
"SEPA's report makes clear the MoD accepted as long ago as 1990 that as many as 800 radiation contaminated aircraft were dumped at the site.
"The residents of Dalgety Bay have waited too long – the clean-up must begin immediately."
Brown has been campaigning for action at the beach following the discovery of radioactive particles and high-activity radiation.
SEPA's investigation found the MoD deposited a large amount of ash and clinker on the Fife coast before the town was developed, which has resulted in the radioactive sources.
It said significant amounts of material remains buried and continue to erode and re-contaminate the area.
Brown added: "Having been named as the polluter, the MoD must now agree to fund the clean-up of the area.
"They say they have concerns over the adequacy and validity of the exercise. But, in my view, the MoD are merely delaying the inevitable."
The MoD said they would ask for a meeting with SEPA to discuss the report.
A spokesman said: "The MoD continue to fund, at their own cost, monitoring arrangements at Dalgety Bay – in line with previous commitments."
SNP MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife Annabelle Ewing said: "We always knew the MoD were responsible for the pollution at Dalgety Bay and these conclusions from the SEPA investigation reinforce this knowledge.
"There can be no more excuses from the MoD – we need them to fund and carry out an immediate clean-up.
"Pleas from residents, politicians, environmentalists and SEPA have fallen on deaf ears before but we can't continue down that route.
"The MoD owe the people of Fife a remediation plan – along with an explanation on why they refused to take responsibility before, causing misery for the people of Fife and surrounding areas."
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